TS EN 15380-5

TS EN 15380-5 is the standard in the railway vehicle classification system that defines the System Breakdown Structure (SBS) and the principal attributes associated with it. In practical terms, it provides a common way to identify and organize the functional and structural parts of a railway vehicle so that descriptions remain consistent across projects and documentation sets.

What a system breakdown structure is for

In general technical use, an SBS is a hierarchical method for dividing a railway vehicle into systems and subsystems. That kind of structure supports engineering design, maintenance planning, configuration control, and comparison between vehicle projects. With a shared vocabulary, elements such as the carbody, running gear, traction system, braking system, and auxiliary systems can be classified in a more orderly and traceable way.

Where this part applies, and where it stops

The standard is written for railway vehicles and may also be applied to special vehicles such as track machines and snow ploughs. However, systems that are specific to those work processes are not included within the standard’s scope; they need to be added separately for each individual project. In other words, the document gives a general framework for common railway systems, while leaving room for project-specific equipment to be described outside the core structure.

• Used to break down railway vehicles into a shared system structure.
• Separates common vehicle systems from task-specific systems.
• Provides an organised basis for principal associated attributes.
• Can also be applied to special railway vehicles, with project-specific additions where needed.